Chapter 609, Living in the Present

Translator: Silavin

 

No one knew how much time had passed, but the Flame Dragon Tribe remained shrouded in darkness throughout.

 

Were it not for those fruit oil lamps scattered about, everyone would truly struggle to see each other’s faces. Fortunately, the Flame Dragon Tribe possessed items like a pocket watch, so Su Bai and the others still maintained awareness of the time.

 

The current time hovered around 10 o’clock in the morning. Despite being mid-morning, the Flame Dragon Tribe remained enveloped in night’s embrace. Gazing outward revealed nothing but an endless expanse of blackness, while the Warriors maintained their vigilant positions, none daring to relax their guard.

 

Today marked what should be considered the second day of the eternal night, with yesterday evening representing the inaugural descent into perpetual darkness.

 

The Warriors had endured considerable exertion. Throughout the previous night, seven or eight waves of Ferocious Beasts had appeared in succession. Most consisted of strange Chimera Ferocious Beasts, that no one had previously encountered or could identify.

 

However, these Chimera Ferocious Beasts proved relatively manageable. With firearms and poison at their disposal, the Ferocious Beasts never managed to approach within even half a step of the Flame Dragon Tribe. Moreover, the explosive packages had proven extraordinarily useful. Those massive, slow-moving Ferocious Beasts invariably perished beneath the devastating force of the explosions.

 

“I’m absolutely exhausted! I want to sleep!” Ge could barely keep his eyes open.

 

Since the eternal night’s arrival, most Warriors had remained sleepless, maintaining their protective vigilance over the Tribe from their assigned positions. While Ferocious Beast attacks were not constant, they required perpetual alertness. No one could predict when the next assault might come.

 

Furthermore, surveillance responsibilities encompassed multiple directions. Afterall, they needed to cover the entire perimeter surrounding the Tribe. This meant they simply could not afford to relax their guard.

 

“I want to sleep too. If I don’t get rest soon, I feel my accuracy will suffer.” Ah Zhen sighed.

 

He too could barely maintain consciousness. His eyes had remained wide open since yesterday evening, straining to observe distant movements and identify the Ferocious Beasts’ vulnerabilities.

 

“You should rest first. Just lean against something nearby and take a short nap. We’ll maintain watch for you.” Yan Hua declared.

 

Yan Hua understood everyone’s fatigue. She certainly felt some exhaustion herself. However, considering this represented her first genuine opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Tribe’s defence, earning recognition as a Warrior, she remained determined to persevere.

 

Not everyone possessed her resilience, though. Feeling tired was entirely natural, so rotating rest periods made perfect sense. This approach would maintain optimal energy levels for them, while ensuring everyone eventually received some respite.

 

“Yes! We’ll nap nearby! Wake us immediately if anything happens.” Ah Zhen responded cheerfully.

 

He had not dared suggest this himself. After all, he was not the firearm squad’s captain, and during this defence mission, such requests seemed inappropriate.

 

“Captain, we’ll rest first, then replace you for your rest period. This works better for all of us.” Ge immediately suggested.

 

While rest was certainly welcome, maintaining a good relationship remained important. He quickly recognised the wisdom of rotational rest periods.

 

“Sure. Go quickly get some sleep.” Yan Hua nodded.

 

*Step step step…*

 

Yan Hua and Sha Lan advanced to the sentry post’s forward position, grasping their telescopes while continuing their distant surveillance.

 

“Just two more days and this will end,” Yan Hua reflected with deep feeling.

 

The current situation exceeded her wildest imagination. In previous years, the Tribe had suffered countless Warrior casualties during this period. Back then, their weapons bore no comparison to what they currently use. Everyone had wielded stone or bone knives while engaging Ferocious Beasts in combat.

 

Thinking back on it now, such weapons were truly inadequate against the Ferocious Beasts. After a few exchanges, these weapons would shatter, forcing Warriors into fight with their bare hands. Consequently, casualties were horrific. Injuries could be treated through Shaman Techniques, but immediate death meant no hope for salvation.

 

Fighting these frenzied Ferocious Beasts typically resulted in instant death, and the eternal night represented the Tribe’s most tragic annual period.

 

“Our Tribe hasn’t suffered a single injury so far. It seems like the Shaman Bone Tablets won’t see use.” Sha Lan observed, glancing at the Tablet hanging from her waist.

 

Sha Lan shared Yan Hua’s sense of amazement. Their current state could arguably represent the finest condition in their Tribe’s history. Simply avoiding Warrior deaths would have been remarkable enough. Who could have anticipated avoiding even injuries?

 

“Ah’Lan, have you realised something?” Yan Hua suddenly asked.

 

Gentle wind caressed Yan Hua’s face, causing her black hair to cascade downward. Combined with her delicate features, she was utterly captivating.

 

“What?” Sha Lan turned her head gently toward her companion, then suddenly thought. “You’re wondering what would happen if the Tribe did not have the Shaman, right?”

 

Being Yan Hua’s closest friend, Sha Lan could generally anticipate her thoughts.

 

“You truly understand me. So, what do you think?” Yan Hua adopted an unusually contemplative demeanour.

 

Her current appearance completely contrasted that of her typically energetic personality. It was like she was an entirely different person.

 

“I dare not imagine it. Without the Shaman, we probably would not be able to reclaim the Flame Dragon Tribe from the Black Snake Tribe…” Sha Lan gazed upward at the Blood Moon, continuing, “We certainly wouldn’t be standing here, so peacefully chatting now.”

 

Sha Lan believed none of this could have happened. Everyone would likely have struggled to maintain peaceful coexistence until this point. Their recent experiences seemed extraordinary in this regard. Previously, everything had seemed manageable, but reflecting upon the recent events, they realised they had been sorely lacking in many aspects.

 

The Flame Dragon Tribe’s ability to stand firm now resulted entirely from the Shaman’s leadership.

 

“Yeah. If the Shaman did not appear in our Tribe, or had our Old Shaman not selected him, who knows what fate we would leave by now…” Yan Hua suddenly smiled.

 

She recalled their first encounter with the Shaman, wondering how someone approximately her age could possibly lead the Tribe toward prosperity. Moreover, his origins remained mysterious, yet he had been entrusted with governing the entire Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

These very doubts had ultimately transformed her opinion of him most dramatically.

 

“But, I envy you, Ah’Hua,” Sha Lan lowered her gaze to study her companion.

 

“Envy me? Why?” Yan Hua blinked her red eyes.

 

“I envy that you witnessed the Shaman from the beginning and accompanied him throughout his whole journey.” Sha Lan expressed her thoughts without concealment.

 

Yan Hua brushed wind-tousled hair behind her ear, smiling gently. “We should live in the present and look toward the future, no?”

 

“Yeah.” Sha Lan smiled warmly.

 

Sha Lan had not expected her companion to quote the Shaman’s own words, though this sentiment rang absolutely true.